Roll film developing tank



May 29, 1951 w. c. ORMOND ROLL FILM DEVELOPING TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1948 Willard C. Ormand I IN VEN TOR.

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Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLL FILM DEVELOPING TANK Willard G. Ormond, Rigby, Idaho Application July 16, 1948, Serial No. 39,071

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to developing tanks used in the photography art, and more particularly to improvements in such tanks as are used for developing roll films.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a tank which simplifies the task of loading roll film into the tank in darkrooms, there being a small number of parts, and the construction of these parts is of very simple character.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tank construction which will allow the filling of the tank with the different liquids used in de" veloping, fixing and washing, in the light, and also to allow the threading of the film into the tank with comparative ease in the darkroom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a funnel construction, incorporated with the cover of the tank, which is of extremely simple and of large capacity, and a specific object is to incorporate with this funnel structure simple means to indicate the level of the fluid within the tank as this level approaches and reaches the level necessary to immerse the roll film.

Another object of this invention is to provide for easier unloading of the film from the tank and from the film holding plates, and it is a particular feature of this invention that these plates are of novel design, being insertable in vertical and parallel spaced relation within the tank, thus allowing the two plates and the roll film to be removed from the tank, thereafter one of the plates being removed from the end of the film and the film then easily removed from the other plate.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide the above-mentioned plates in sets, the plates being adapted for being effectively spaced apart different distances according to the width of p the roll film to be processed in the tank, the particular means for spacing the plates from the sides of the tank illustrated and described in detail in this application comprising a pair of flanges on each plate adapted to contact the sides of the tank.

And a last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a roll film developing tank which is relatively inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, which is simple, safe and extremely convenient to use, and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the assembled tank with the cover thereon;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 2-2 in Figure 1, the figure including the representation of the cover in a second position in dash lines;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the tank with the plates cperatively positioned therein but with the cover removed; and,

Figures t and 5 are transverse sectional and vertical views of the tank and cover, the views being taken on the respective section lines in Figure 2.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the environment wherewith this invention is adapted to be used will include a roll film in which a general portion of the spool therefor is indicated at it in Figure 2, this roll film ordinarily having a film proper l 2 and a paper film backing M. The environment will also include, of course, different liquids which will be poured into the tank as the process of developing a film is carried out.

The tank includes a pair of parallel vertical side walls IE and end walls it, together with a bottom !9 to define a generally rectangular open topped tank. This tank is provided with an enlargement, generally indicated at it, which is formed with a horizontally extending floor 22 integral with an upper portion of one end wall it, the same end wall being foreshortened at the top, as indicated in Figure 2, the enlargement having vertical walls 24 and a rim 23 which is continuous with a similar riin incorporated peripherally with the top edges of the other walls of the tank. This rim 26 has a continuous groove,

28 therein to receive a depending lip disposed peripherally and on the undersurface of a cover- 32. The cover 32 is provided with a funnel at one end thereof, this funnel being defined by a vertical wall an inclined wall 38 and end walls 37. The lower end of the funnel is provided with a ccntinuous, depending flange 39, the latter being adapted to.

as we! a continuous inturned flange be loosely received in a continuous channel 45, in the upper surface of the fioor 22. The inclined wall 86 of the funnel is provided with an elon-- gated protuberance t4 which serves as a level in-. dicator to advise the operator as to when the tank is filled with liquid, the level of the liquid being the same in the funnel as in the tank when the tank is placed on a level support. In this respect, it should be noted that the protuberance 44 is accurately placed with reference to the height of the film I2 when loaded into the tank.

A pair of opposing plates 46 having extending portions 48 on opposing sides thereof, that is, the adjacent sides of the plates when the same are placed in the tank, are dimensioned so as to fit within the tank in vertical positions parallel to the sides l6 of the tank. The portions 48 having spiral grooves 50 therein to receive the film l2 and a plurality of openings 52, registering with the grooves 50 and disposed transversely of the plates allow circulation of liquids in the tank from one side to the other of each plate and facilitate the threading of the film into the grooves 50. The member 48 is formed with a belled mouth portion 54 to facilitate the entrance of the film into the groove 50 in each plate.

This invention provides means for makin the same tank usable in developing difierent sized films, the plates 46 being easily removable and also being provided in sets, there being means incorporated with the plates to allow diiferent spacing thereof relative to the side walls Id of the tank. In the embodiment illustrated in this application, this means takes the form of flanges 56 on the sides of the plates 46 remote from the grooves 59, the flanges being adapted to engage the walls 16. Recesses 58 may be formed in the fianges 50 and in the bottom of the plates to facilitate further the circulation of fluids within the tank. One upper corner 60 of each plate will be cut away to accommodate the inclined wall 39 of the funnel in the cover.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings and wtih the above recitation of the objects sought to be achieved by this invention. In recapitulation, it may be noted that threading the film into the tank, after the plates have been placed therein in proper position, is conveniently accomplished by placing the journal portions of the spool in bearing seats 92 on the upper edges of the plates adjacent to the belled mouth portion 54 on each plate. After an end portion of the film I2 has been inserted into the belled mouth portion 54, the paper backing l4 will be pulled gently and continuously while a thumb is pressed lightly on the upper side of a journal 10 of the spool. The said journals will revolve Within the bearing seat 62 on each plate and the film [2 will be threaded into the spiral grooves 59, the spool will then be removed and the cover 32 placed on the tank and the different liquids may be poured into the tank through the funnel in the cover, in daylight, without fear of damage to the film. Removal of the film is facilitated by the fact that one of the plates 49 may be withdrawn from the one side of the film, leaving the film supported only by the other plate which will, of course, be held substantially horizontally during this process.

It will be clear that all of the objects rectied above are amply achieved by this invention and further description would appear unnecessary. Obviously, many variations in details of construction and proportionment of the various parts may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of this invention, and the scope thereof should be determined only as limited by a proper interpretation of the terms used in the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A roll film developing tank comprising an open topped tank having a pair of parallel vertical side walls and end walls, an outwardly extending enlargement extending across the top and at one end of said tank, and a funnel 111 said cover extending transversely of the tank communicating with said tank and substantially coextensive in length, width and height with said enlargement, said enlargement having a floor with an endless channel therein, said funnel having an inturned horizontal flange adjacent to and covering a portion of said floor and an endless depending fiange fitting loosely into said endless channel, whereby light is prevented from entering the tank through the funnel.

2. A tank according to claim 1 and including opposed replaceable film-holding plates in said tank having film-receiving grooves on their adjacent sides and flanges on their remote sides for effective spacing of said plates from said side Walls so that the distance between the plates corresponds with the width of a particular roll film.

3. Replaceable roll film holding plates for a developing tank insertable in vertical parallel spaced relation in a developing tank and having similar spiral grooves on adjacent sides of the plates to receive marginal portions of a roll film, each of said grooves including an enlarged mouth portion, means for effectively spacing said plates from the sides of the tank so that the distance between the plates will correspond to the width of a particular roll film, said means comprising flanges on said plates on the sides of the plates remote from said grooves, and a bearing seat on the upper edge of each plate adapted to rotatably support the ends of a spool, said seats being located adjacent the mouth portions of said grooves.

4. A roll film developing tank comprising an open topped tank having a pair of parallel vertical side walls and end walls, an outwardly extending enlargement extending across the top and at one end of said tank, an endless groove in the top of said walls and enlargement, a cover for said tank including the enlargement, a funnel in said cover extending transversely of the tank communicating with said tank and substantially coextensive in length, Width and height with said enlargement, a pair of plates within said tank and parallel to said side walls, and spiral grooves in the adjacent faces of said plates to receive a roll film, said enlargement including a floor portion having an endless channel therein, and said funnel having an endless depending flange loosely engageable in said last-mentioned groove to prevent entrance of light into said tank while allowing liquids to fiow from said funnel into said tank.

WILLARD C. ORMOND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,213,489 Binder Jan. 23, 1917 2,082,962 Lesjak et al June 8, 1937 2,190,754 Carleton Feb. 20, 1940 2,214,581 Freeman Sept. 10, 1940 2,230,584 Busse Feb. 4, 1941 2,507,238 Altschuler et al May 9, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 799,862 France Apr. 20, 1936 806,953 France Oct. 5, 1936 

